The busy life of regulatory T cells in systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells suppress the proliferation and release of cytokines in several subsets of immune cells. By doing so and by maintaining immune tolerance in peripheral tissues, Treg cells contribute to avert autoimmunity. Many studies have investigated how Treg cells operate in autoimmune diseases, and which cellular and molecular pathways are targeted by Treg cells. This review provides an update on the activities of Treg cells in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of hyperactive immune cells and aberrant antibody responses to multiple nuclear and cytoplasmic antigens.